I have 2 kids ready to get into hunting and a wife who started this year. I am real skiddish thinking about having them shoot anything less than a 30/30. I do not trust the knockdown power or the damage they can do. Can anyone help with finding a reason to trust a .243 or maybe a .270 or what would a good comprimise be?
I shot a .243 for years and killed many deer with it. I now gave it to my son and hopefully it as good to him as it was to me. A .243 has plenty of knock down power if that’s what your wondering. Also I use to sight mine in 1″ high at 100 yards and it was 2or 3″ low at 300. So basically no raising the crosshairs from 0-300.
Plenty of power in a .243 for youth or anyone. 
.270 there is no question is there???? 
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Plenty of power in a .243 for youth or anyone.
.270 there is no question is there????
x2, check out my Wyoming 2010 post in the big game forum. Both my muley and the goat were shot w/ 243, with the longest shot 325 yds. Both critters didn’t go 30 yds after the shot. good luck its always exciting getting new guns
I use a 270 and have dropped every deer i have shot with it, its all about the shot placement.
.270 is plenty, Can’t speak for a .243, but sounds like others use them with great success. I believe the law says bigger than .22, centerfire. I don’t think they would let you use something that wouldn’t be proficient in dispatching the animals we hunt, but like others have said, shot placement is what kills quickly. Give me a well placed .243 round, over a gut shot with a 30-06. 
Have fun too 
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I have 2 kids ready to get into hunting and a wife who started this year. I am real skiddish thinking about having them shoot anything less than a 30/30. I do not trust the knockdown power or the damage they can do. Can anyone help with finding a reason to trust a .243 or maybe a .270 or what would a good comprimise be?
My son just took a 140 pound doe with a 100 grain .243 at just under 100 yards. I don’t want to say what the exit wound looked like! But, VERY accurate, very low recoil. You can also use it for coyotes and varmints. we have the Savage with the Accutrigger. Quite the rifle and round. You won’t regret one.
243!
I would pick a .243 way before a 30/30. More range, better accuracy, more energy and velocity. Just make sure you shoot the right bullets. And the .270 is probably the best whitetail deer caliber you can buy.
I would not hesitate one bit on the .243, so versitile and plenty of knock down power for a deer. Also, .270 can’t say enough about them, I do shoot one, have for 4 years and best shooting gun I have had for whitetail so far in my life for range and bullet sizes 
Is there much of a difference in the recoil between a .243 and a .270?
depends on the grain of the bullet of course and if there is a recoil pad, but for me however; the .270 is slightly more but not that noticeable, others may have different results though
I have 3 243 rifles and my 2 kids and myself each shoot them and have never had a problem with killing deer. They are a great gun and like many have said it doesn’t matter what caliber you shoot it’s all about shot placement. You won’t be disappointed. I have a .284 that just sits in the gun safe because I enjoy the .243 that much.
I’ve shot quite a few deer with a 22-250 and the .223 calibers, so .243 is plenty big. It’s about accuracy and making a good shot.
I’ve taken a number of deer with Dad’s .243 growing up. I have a .243 WSSM that I use now. I’ve only lost one deer in my life…however, I was using a 30.06 then.
To me the .270 kicks quite a bit more, it’s not a bad kick at all for an adult, but a kid might notice it.
There is not a deer walking this earth that can’t be killed witha .270 and a decent bullet. It will kill ANY deer a 30-06 or some wizbang magnum will.
hmmm dunno, in SE MN we have 20 or 12 gauge? my 11 year old shoulders the 20 with no prob, he may be 85 lbs. Growing up out west I used the 270 cause it kicked less than the 30-30
You may be right that a kid can handle it, I guess it depends on the kid. I would say a 20 gauge slug kicks more than a 270. The 30-30 we used to use kicked noticably less than either IMO.
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